Isolated polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding same for generating plants with increased cuticlar water permeability

Abstract

An isolated polynucleotide is provided. The isolated polynucleotides comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 88% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 22, the polypeptide being capable of increasing a cuticular water permeability of a plant expressing same. Also provided are methods of generating plants expressing such polypeptides which can be used for producing dehydrated plants or cuticular covered portions thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of producing a dehydrated fruit of a plant, the method comprising introducing into the plant a nucleic acid construct which comprises a nucleic acid sequence expressing a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 22, wherein said polypeptide increases the cuticular water permeability of the plant expressing same as compared to a plant of similar parental cultivar or genotype not expressing said polypeptide, thereby producing the dehydrated fruit of the plant. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 allowing the fruit to dehydrate on the plant; and subsequently 
 collecting the dehydrated fruit. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing the fruit from the plant prior to dehydration thereof; and subsequently 
 allowing the fruit to dehydrate. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid sequence is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 21. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a tomato plant.